Bow ties

ABSTRACT

A pre-formed bow tie comprises the usual bow shaped elements which are interconnected at their constricted, reduced width, centers, by a locking band wrapped therearound. The band is covered by fabric. The band also includes a spring controlled vertically swingable lever arm by means of which the pre-formed bow tie may be releasably secured to the neckband of a shirt without being connected to the collar of the shirt. The neckband may be that of a turtle neck shirt as well as the conventional collared shirt.

United States Patent Najarian Dec. 25, 1973 [54] BOW TIES 3,336,6008/1967 Kanter et a1 2/153 [75] Inventor: John Najarian, Cresskill, NJ.

Primary Examiner-R1chard J. Scanlan. Jr. [73] Assignee: France NeckwearCo. Inc., New s Stephen Baker York, NY.

[22] Filed: Jan. 4, 1973 57 ABSTRACT Appl. No.: 320,976

[52] U.S. Cl. 2/154 [51] Int. Cl A4ld 25/08 [58] Field of Search 2/151,154, 152 R, 2/152 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 939,67811/1909 Felix r 2/154 3.077.606 2/1963 Less 2/152 A A pre-formed bow tiecomprises the usual bow shaped elements which are interconnected attheir constricted, reduced width, centers, by a locking band wrappedtherearound. The band is covered by fabric. The band also includes aspring controlled vertically swingable lever arm by means of which thepreformed bow tie may be releasably secured to the neckband of a shirtwithout being connected to the collar of the shirt. The neckband may bethat of a turtle neck shirt as well as the conventional collared shirt.

6 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PMENTED 3.780.381

SHEEI 2 BF 2 i M HEW. O Y

BOW TIES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates topre-formed bow ties as used by men on outer shirts. Such bow ties arenormally provided with a rear disposed spring clamp for firmly graspingthe shirt so as to remain in place. How ever, for many years the utilityor usefullness of such bow ties has declined because the spring clampswere horizontally disposed and functioned by grasping the collar wingsof the shirt. On the other hand, the styles of collars have variedconsiderably for some years. For example, when the collar wings divergedwidely, the conventional clamp could not accommodate itself to thechange.

Further, the conventional spring clamp seriously distorted the collarwings because a firm grasp was necessary.

This invention provides a solution to the above problems by providing anovel construction of the bow tie assembly and further comprising avertically swingable spring clamp which does not grasp the collar wingsat all but which instead firmly grasps the neckband of the shirt.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of the presentinvention to provide a pre-formed bow tie which is essentially simple inits basic construction yet which closely simulates a hand tied bow tieas tied by the wearer. The improved bow tie comprises front and back bowelements which are inter-connected by a centrally disposed, encircling,wraparound band which also serves the important function of firmlysupporting a vertically operating, spring controlled clamp arm. Theclamp arm support and its spring succeed in making possible aconsiderably strong grip on the collar neckband which is essentialbecause the collar neckband grip maintains substantially a single pointcontact whereas the conventional form of pre-formed bow ties has ahorizontal disposition which grasps both collar wings. Thus the strong,single point contact prevents undesired twisting or dis placement of thebow tie when worn.

The above and other objects of this invention will become apparent fromthe following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front perspective view ofthe completed bow tie as applied to a shirt neckband;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view as viewed along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2, but with the clamparm in the raised, non-clamping position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, enlarged, rear elevational view of thecompleted bow tie as viewed along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but taken along the line 5--5 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the wraparound band before it is encircledaround the bow shaped elements;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view as viewed along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6;and

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the wraparound band as viewed along theline 8-8 of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawingswhich illustrate a preferred embodiment, the reference numeral 10generally designates the pre-formed or pre-tied bow tie which isillustrated as attached to the collar 11 through its neckband 12. As forthe construction of the front and back bow shaped elements 13 and 14 ofthe bow tie 10, these are conventional and are not claimed herein. As isconventional, they comprise two separate members 13 and 14, both beingconstricted or reduced in width at their centers. They areinterconnected by my novel, central locking band 15 which is shownbefore being applied to the bow tie in FIGS. 6 8.

Referring first to FIGS. 6 8, the locking band 15 which is to encircleand be centrally secured around the bow shaped elements 13 and 14, ispreferably, but not necessarily, formed of thin flat brass materialwhich is malleable so that it can be easily formed or bent as willhereinafter be described. In a typical satisfactory embodiment, band 15was about three inches in length and about /2 inch at its widestportion.

Central locking band 15 includes an elongated tongue 16 at one endthereof, and a horizontal, tongue receiving slot 17 at the other endthereof. It is also formed with an axial, substantially centrallydisposed slot 18 which accommodates the upper or top end of the clampingdevice which will hereinafter be described.

Although a principal function of central band 15 is to encircle thecenter of the bow shaped elements 13 and 14 and lock them together aswill hereinafter be described, an equally important function is itssupport of the neckband clamping means. Such clamping means comprisesthe metal clamp arm 20, the top end 21 of which penetrates the centralslot 18 as shown in FIGS. 6 8. The said top end 21 is the non-clampingend and is curled around after it penetrates slot 18 as shown in FIG. 7.At its extreme top end it is formed with side extensions 23 forfacilitating its being grasped by the spring means to be hereinafterdescribed.

The spring means and indeed the clamp arm 20 are not per se novel exceptin combination with the central band 15, and except insofar as theycooperate with the bow tie to permit its application to the shirt collarby a neckband clamp for the advantages hereinbefore set forth.

Clamp arm 20, as will hereinafter be made clear, is swingable verticallyfrom a raised, non-clamping position shown in FIG. 3, to a downward,clamping position shown in FIG. 2 where it clamps the neckband 12against the horizontal abutment pin 25. Abutment pin 25 is stated to behorizontal because that is the position it assumes when the bow tie isworn.

Referring again to FIGS. 6 8, the abutment pin 25 is connected as by arivet 26 to the clamp arm side of central band 15. The same rivet 26 mayconnect one end of the spring means to the other side of band 15. Thus,the spring means comprises a resilient metal arm 27 which extends towardcentral slot 18. Arm 27 has two parallel slits 28 so as to form theresilient leg 29. The free end of leg 29 engages the top end 21 of clamparm 20, in combination with the spaced knuckles 31 and 32 which areformed at the free end of metal arm 27 on adjacent sides of leg 29, soas to engage the side extensions 23. As above stated, the clampingdevice per se is not novel, being shown for example in U.S. Pat. No.3,336,600.

In assembling the bow tie, the bow shaped elements 13 and 14 are placedagainst each other and band 15 is caused to encircle the centralconstricted ends of said elements. Tongue 16 is inserted through slot 17and drawn somewhat tight, whereupon the extreme end of tongue 16 is bentover as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, so as to lock the bow shaped elementstogether. At the same time, the clamp arm 20 together with abutment pinis thus disposed at the rear of the tie as shown in said FIGS. 2 and 3.Accordingly, clamping to the neckband 12 is made possible.

Of course, it would be aesthetically undesirable to leave the metalcentral band 15 exposed. Accordingly, a wrap-around fabric outer band issewn around metal band 15 while nevertheless permitting the clamp arm20, and abutment pin 25 to extend through band 35 as shown in FIGS. 2and 3.

Further, and as a most unusual, novel, and advantageous use, theimproved pre-formed bow tie may even be used with turtle neck shirtswhich have no collar wings at all, and may be used with a normal jacketwhen so used on a turtle neck shirt.

I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention but it is obviousthat numerous changes and omissions may e made therein without departingfrom its spirits.

What is claimed is:

l. A pre-formed bow tie comprising bow shaped elements, a central bandon said elements, an abutment pin connected to said band and wherebysaid pin extends horizontally in the completed bow tie when in thewearing position, a clamp arm on said band, and spring means connectedto said band, said clamp arm being swingable to a raised, non-clampingposition, and being also swingable to a downward, clamping positionwhere it is pressed by said spring means against said pin so as to beconnected to a shirt neckband, said clamp arm being swingable verticallyto either its clamping or its non-clamping position.

2. A pre-formed bow tie according to claim 1 and wherein said centralband ties around and encircles the center of said bow shaped elements,and locking elements on said central band for tying said band tightly inits encircling position.

3. A pre-formed bow tie according to claim 2 and wherein said lockingelements of said central band comprise a slot formed on one end of saidcentral band, and an elongated tongue on the other end thereof and beinginsertable through said slot, the material of said central band beingmalleable so that said tongue may be bent into tying position afterinsertion through said slot.

4. A pre-formed bow tie according to claim 3 and including a wrap-aroundfabric band disposed outwardly of said central band.

5. A pre-formed bow tie according to claim 4 and wherein said springmeans comprises an arm of resilient metal connected at one end thereofto an end of said central band, said resilient arm having two parallelslits formed therein, thereby forming a resilient leg therebetween, thefree end of said resilient arm being formed with two spaced knuckles,said clamp arm having its top, non-clamping end, being swingablyretained by said knuckles as well as by the portion of said resilientleg between said knuckles.

6. A pre-formed bow tie according to claim 5 and wherein said centralband is formed with a substantially centrally disposed slot, said clamparm top end penetrating said centrally disposed slot so as to beengageable by said knuckles, said spring means being wholly disposed onone side of said central band, and said clamp arm being substantiallywholly disposed on the other side of said central band.

1. A pre-formed bow tie comprising bow shaped elements, a central bandon said elements, an abutment pin connected to said band and wherebysaid pin extends horizontally in the completed bow tie when in thewearing position, a clamp arm on said band, and spring means connectedto said band, said clamp arm being swingable to a raised, non-clampingposition, and being also swingable to a downward, clamping positionwhere it is pressed by said spring means against said pin so as to beconnected to a shirt neckband, said clamp arm being swingable verticallyto either its clamping or its non-clamping position.
 2. A pre-formed bowtie according to claim 1 and wherein said central band ties around andencircles the center of said bow shaped elements, and locking elementson said central band for tying said band tightly in its encirclingposition.
 3. A pre-formed bow tie according to claim 2 and wherein saidlocking elements of said central band comprise a slot formed on one endof said central band, and an elongated tongue on the other end thereofand being insertable through said slot, the material of said centralband being malleable so that said tongue may be bent into tying positionafter insertion through said slot.
 4. A pre-formed bow tie according toclaim 3 and including a wrap-around fabric band disposed outwardly ofsaid central band.
 5. A pre-formed bow tie according to claim 4 andwherein said spring means comprises an arm of resilient metal connectedat one end thereof to an end of said central band, said resilient armhaving two parallel slits formed therein, thereby forming a resilientleg therebetween, the free end of said resilient arm being formed withtwo spaced knuckles, said clamp arm having its top, non-clamping end,being swingably retained by said knuckles as well as by the portion ofsaid resilient leg between said knuckles.
 6. A pre-formed bow tieaccording to claim 5 and wherein said central band is formed with asubstantially centrally disposed slot, said clamp arm top endpenetrating said centrally disposed slot so as to be engageable by saidknuckles, said spring means being wholly disposed on one side of saidcentral band, and said clamp arm being substantially wholly disposed onthe other side of said central band.